What Forbes India does

Forbes India is the Indian edition of Forbes magazine, operating as a private media publication under a licensing arrangement with the global Forbes network (majority-owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments). Headquartered in Mumbai and employing 101-250 staff, the company delivers business journalism and analysis through a multi-channel platform: the forbesindia.com digital property, a monthly print magazine, newsletters, video interviews and documentaries, podcasts, and photo galleries. Its content spans leadership, innovation, billionaires, startups, and the Indian startup ecosystem, supported by a dedicated AI Tracker editorial section and an Ask AI chatbot on the website.

The business is anchored by a slate of proprietary annual editorial lists that have become industry benchmarks — the 30 Under 30 (13th edition in 2026, spanning 15 categories), the W-Power list of self-made women, the India Rich List, and the DGEMS Select 200 for emerging enterprises with global potential. Forbes India monetizes through four primary streams: annual digital and print subscriptions priced at Rs. 1,200 per year, display and branded content advertising (via its Brand Connect product), event hosting and sponsorships (including the EngageX conference co-presented with CNBC-TV18), and sponsored editorial coverage. Its customer base is dual-sided: a large distributed readership of Indian business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors on the consumer side, and enterprise advertisers, event sponsors, and award honourees across diverse industries on the B2B side.

Forbes India's strategic positioning leverages the global Forbes brand for credibility while maintaining India-specific editorial focus. Recent product and partnership activity points to an ongoing extension of surface area — new list categories (D2C, Defence & Space), AI-themed editorial coverage, AI-enhanced website features, and high-profile co-branded events — alongside a stable, mature operating base anchored by long-running lists and recurring awards ceremonies.

Name

Forbes India

Legal name

Forbes India

Website

https://forbesindia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Forbes India is the Indian edition of Forbes magazine, delivering business journalism, proprietary annual lists (30 Under 30, W-Power, Rich List, DGEMS), and co-branded events to Indian business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors via digital, print, and multimedia channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business News & Media

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

akta.pro primary industry

Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines (MPAJAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Data Journalism & News Intelligence Publishers (Indexes, Election/Market Data) (MPAJADAK), Consumer Lifestyle & Fashion Magazines (MPAJAEAA)

Keywords

• Business journalism
• Financial media
• Executive interviews
• Wealth rankings
• Business news

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Subscription Revenue: Forbes India generates revenue through annual subscriptions providing access to magazine editions and exclusive content. Subscriptions start at Rs. 1200 per year as stated on their website.
2. Advertising: The publication monetizes its digital platform through display advertising and branded content opportunities
3. Event Partnerships: Forbes India partners with other media outlets (e.g., CNBC-TV18) to present events like EngageX, generating revenue through event hosting and sponsorships

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Forbes India is the Indian edition of Forbes magazine, delivering business news, in-depth analysis, leadership interviews, and proprietary annual lists (30 Under 30, W-Power, India Rich List, DGEMS) across its digital platform, print magazine, video/podcast channels, and branded events. It covers leadership, innovation, billionaires, startups, and AI developments focused on the Indian market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forbes India Digital Platform The primary digital platform (forbesindia.com) delivering business news, analysis, and feature content across categories including leadership, innovation, billionaires, startups, and lifestyle, accessible to individual readers and subscribers in India.
• Forbes India Magazine Monthly print magazine featuring in-depth cover stories, long-form journalism, and exclusive interviews, distributed through annual subscription starting at Rs. 1200 per year to Indian business readers.
• Forbes India 30 Under 30 List Annual editorial franchise recognizing young achievers under 30 across categories including AI innovation, design, sports, finance, and creative arts, providing industry recognition and visibility to emerging Indian leaders.
• W-Power List Annual awards franchise honouring India's top self-made women pioneers and change-makers across diverse fields including beauty, entertainment, finance, conservation, and fashion.
• India Rich List Annual ranking of India's wealthiest individuals and billionaires, providing authoritative wealth tracking and benchmarking of India's high-net-worth individuals.
• DGEMS Select 200 Recognition list identifying emerging Indian enterprises with global business potential, highlighting innovative companies across sectors for visibility and credibility.
• Newsletters Email newsletters delivering curated business news, analysis, and updates to subscribers for regular engagement with Forbes India content.
• Brand Connect Sponsored content and branded storytelling solutions offered to companies seeking to leverage Forbes India's audience reach and editorial credibility for marketing purposes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Close to 1000 nominations received for 30 Under 30 2026 list

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CNBC-TV18coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 June 2026Forbes India and CNBC-TV18 co-presented EngageX 2026, a conference bringing together business leaders from banking, insurance, aviation, logistics, retail, and technology sectors to discuss how AI is reshaping customer interactions. This partnership leverages both media brands for event execution and audience reach.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Inc42: India's largest digital-native startup and tech media platform. Overlaps with Forbes India's startup coverage, lists (e.g., Inc42's '30 Under 30'), and premium newsletters, particularly for founder and VC audiences.
• Moneycontrol: India's leading digital business and financial news platform (Network18). Competes for the same investor and professional audience as Forbes India's digital site, with a strong real-time market data and portfolio-tracking proposition.
• YourStory: Indian digital media platform focused on startups, entrepreneurs, and SMBs. Competes for the same founder and SME advertiser base as Forbes India's startup and DGEMS coverage, with strong newsletter and content distribution reach.
• CNBC-TV18: India's leading business TV news channel and a current Forbes India co-presenter (EngageX 2026). Competes for the same business leader audience and B2B event sponsorships, and is both partner and rival across formats.
• Entrepreneur India: Indian edition of Entrepreneur magazine with print and digital presence. Comparable to Forbes India on startup and SME coverage, franchise lists (Entrepreneur 35 Under 35), and B2B event sponsorship inventory.
• Business Today (India Today Group): One of India's longest-running business magazines, owned by the India Today Group. Competes directly with Forbes India for Indian business leader readership, cover-story interviews, and corporate advertising, with overlapping annual ranking franchises.
• Economic Times (ET): Times of India's business news brand and India's largest financial newspaper. Overlaps heavily with Forbes India on business news, CEO interviews, and startup coverage, and competes for premium BFSI and enterprise advertising budgets.
• Fortune India: Indian edition of Fortune magazine, the closest direct competitor to Forbes India. Both serve senior Indian business audiences with print magazine, digital platform, and annual lists (e.g., Fortune India 40 Under 40), and compete for the same premium advertising and event sponsorships.
• Mint (Hindustan Times Media): Indian financial daily and digital platform published with Bloomberg. Directly comparable to Forbes India for premium business readers, wealth rankings, and corporate advertising, with a similar print+digital+events model.

Broad incumbents

• Bloomberg: Global financial data, news, and media giant with an Asia presence (including Bloomberg Quint collaboration in India). Competes for premium Indian business leader attention and global enterprise advertising, with a much broader portfolio spanning data terminals, TV, and events.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/forbes_india
• Facebookfacebook.com/forbesindia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forbes-india

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forbes India